HF 599

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/17/2011 10:59am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; providing for beaver control by road authorities;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 97B.667.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 97B.667, is amended to read:

97B.667 REMOVAL OF new text begin BEAVERS, new text end BEAVER DAMS new text begin , new text end AND LODGES BY
ROAD AUTHORITIES.

When a drainage watercourse is impaired by a beaver dam and the water damages
or threatens to damage a public road, the road authority, as defined in section 160.02,
subdivision 25, may remove the impairment and any associated beaver lodge within 300
feet of the road. new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the road authority may remove
or kill or arrange to have removed or killed by any lawful means a beaver associated
with the lodge. A road authority that kills or arranges to have killed a beaver under this
section must notify a conservation officer or employee of the Wildlife Division within
ten days after the animal is killed. A road authority may, after consultation with the
Wildlife Division and the Board of Water and Soil Resources, implement a local beaver
control program designed to reduce the number of incidents of beaver interfering with or
damaging a public road. The local control program may include the offering of a bounty
for the lawful taking of beaver.
new text end